486 Science of the Middle Age attributed to Magic. views that have been taken of the subject by two gentlemen whose communications appeared in "The Lancet," of the 10th instant. The first, Mr. Stein of Manchester, shews that the most decided benefits have resulted from administering oxygen gas to persons afflicted with this dreadful malady, and therefore recommends the inhalation of oxygen, or the nitrous oxide gas, as the most valuable medicines in the worst species of the disease, from their immediate action in removing the carbon from the blood, and restoring the circulation, and the temperature of the body to its natural standard. i The other opinion possesses more novelty, while it seems equally well entitled to the attention of professional men who have charge of Cholera patients. Dr. Shaughnessy, in his masterly paper, recommends, in addition to inhaling oxygen, that solutions of such neutral salts as contain oxygen and chlorine, (nitrate and chloride of soda) should be injected into the system, with the view of decarbonating the blood by the most prompt means, in the very extreme cases of Cholera. As a proof of the perfect practicability of the plan, Dr. S. tried some experiments on a dog with the most complete success, showing that the introduction of oxygen in the liquid form is no less efficient in restoring vital energy than when administered under the gaseous form; while it is capable of being applied in the most advanced stages, when the respiratory powers are too feeble to hold out any hope of recovery from this dreadful disease. As the object of my present communication, Mr. Urban, was that of merely contributing my humble mite towards the prevention (as far as human means can prevent) of this dreadful malady from extending itself beyond its present locality, by embodying the leading facts which have been established by persons more competent to the inquiry, I hope I have proved sufficient to justify Government in the restrictive measures they have adopted as to vessels leaving the infected districts. It is no doubt a source of mortification to the shipping interests of Sunderland and Newcastle, to have any restriction, whatever imposed on their trade; but it is the duty of every Government not to allow the inhabitants of a vast metropolis to be placed [Dec. in imminent peril, out of regard to the local interests of one or two provincial CIVIS. towns. Mr. URBAN, Kellington, Dec. 12. ARTS and Sciences, philosophy and civilization, are well known, generally speaking, to have had their origin in the East. The frequent journeys of the inhabitants of Europe during the latter end of the twelfth and in the thirteenth centuries, into those distant climes, in the Crusades, gave birth to several species of knowledge then scarcely known. Ignorance is the enemy of improvement. While men have no desire to emancipate themselves from her slavery, they despise and oppose all that tends to enlighten the mind. The celebrated Gerbert, however, about this period, or somewhat prior, founded a mathematical school at Rheims, in which he himself taught the elements of that science. He received his knowledge of mathematics from the Arabians. After his death he was treated as a sorcerer: he was said to have made a compact with the Devil, from whose clutches he had much difficulty to extricate himself. The exalted station of life to which he arose, the extent of his knowledge in astronomy, the instruments which he invented for the improvement of that science, were quite sufficient, in these dark ages, to make him be thought a necromancer. Notwithstanding the ignorance which then prevailed, England produced a Roger Bacon, commonly denominated Friar Bacon; a man superior to his age; a man acquainted with mechanics, optics, astronomy, and chemistry; who is said to have been the inventor of burning glasses, of the telescope, and gunpowder. He, too, was accused of magic, because his genius enabled him to soar above the ignorance of his time. About the same time, flourished Albertus Magnus, a man of inquisitive mind, and deeply skilled in the more abstruse sciences, at that period termed "occult:" he was deemed, on this account, a magician, and with difficulty escaped the most barbarous tortures. Such accusations are a strong proof how greatly superior those astonishing men were to the age in which they lived. Magic originally consisted in the study of wisdom. Afterwards 1831.] Presumed Magicians.-Family of Huyshe. the Magi applied their minds to astrology, divination, and sorcery; consequently, in time, men or women who excelled their rude neighbours in civilization and knowledge, were branded with the name of Magician, an odious character, used to signify a diabolical kind of science, depending on the assistance of the infernal host, and the souls of the departed. Few instances of these necromantic exhibitions occur in our own country, previous to the discovery of the art of printing. After that time our annals are full of them. About the middle of the fifteenth century, John Fust or Faust, a goldsmith of Mentz, carried a number of Bibles to Paris, which he had caused to be printed, and disposed of them as manuscripts. The uniformity of the copies raised general wonder, being considered as a task beyond human invention. The red ink, with which they were embellished, was said to be his blood, and hence he was accused of being in league with the Devil. From this circumstance arose the story of the Devil and Dr. Faustus, which continues even to the present day. A little prior to this period flourished Joan of Arc, better known as the Maid of Orleans, who attributed the impulses which she felt to the influence of Heaven; but upon her downfall, those who before had regarded her as a saint, considered her as a sorceress, forsaken by the demon who had granted her a fallacious and temporary assistance. Still later, in the reign of Henry VIII. lived Mother Shipton, whose fame spread through the whole kingdom; and multitudes of all ranks resorted to her for the removal of their doubts, and the knowledge of future contingencies. This premised, give me leave, Mr. Urban, to venture a conjecture on the figures engraved at page 401 of your last Number, on what I conceive to have been an ivory commemorative medal. The story of Friar Bacon's celebrated brazen head is well known. It is said by tradition, that this head was framed by the philosopher for the most beneficent purposes. Had its utterance been properly attended to, the most happy results were to have been the consequence; nothing less than the fortification of this kingdom by an irrefragable surrounding, barrier " 487 of brass. The mystic figure, according to its original designation, in due time solemnly spoke; and distinctly, at three several intervals of time, uttered, in the most impressive tones, "Time is," (which was the opportunity appointed for making the request)" Time was," and Time is past. These preternatural voices being heedlessly neglected by a servant in waiting, at the last terrible words the enchanted symbol fell to the ground, the intended beneficial project failed, and the head was instantly shivered into a thousand fragments. The middle figure in the drawing, and which indeed seems composed of inanimate materials, I conceive represents this mysterious head. The person immediately in front is Friar Ba con. The personage on his right, I conjecture, may be Albertus Magnus, rather than Dr. Faustus, as your correspondent supposes; he being more a contemporary, as appears from the adjoined memorials, with the English philosopher. The three necromantic worthies seem deeply engaged in the construction and design of the brazen head. Whom the female figure on the left denotes, I am at a loss to conjecture. Anachronism forbids us to suppose it to represent Mother Shipton, or even the Maid of Orleans. Some of your correspondents, more deeply versed in "legendary lore," may, perhaps, deign further to elucidate in your pages this popular and youth-interesting incident of the "olden time." Mr. URBAN, OMICRON. Talaton, near Honiton, Nov. 8. PERMIT me to offer some additional particulars in reply to the queries respecting the family of Huyshe, contained in the letter from Mr. Edward Protheroe, M. P., p. 305, to whose acuteness and indefatigable industry they are indebted for the recovery of several particulars of their history. Two of its members may interest others besides the genealogist and the herald. Alexander, who stands second in Bishop Walton's acknowledgments for assistance in his Polyglott (see Todd's Memoirs of Walton, i. p. 269); and Richard, founder of the hospital at Taunton. I have ascertained the descent of Alexander, by means of the MSS. Mr. Palmer of Fairfield, from 488 Family of Huyshe.-Berceans and Thessalonicans. his descendant, the late Sir John Acland, permitted me to take copies. He was son of John Huyshe of Wells, and grandson of William Huyshe, who was living at Doniford in 1542, by Johanna daughter of John Sydenham, his second wife. By the old family pedigree, and the entries in the Heralds' Office, it appears that this William and James Huyshe of London (the father of Rowland), were sons of John Huyshe of Doniford, whom Mr. Palmer states to have been living in the 6th of Hen. VIII. and Grace daughter of Richard Walrond of Bovy. With respect to Richard, I have to request the assistance of your Correspondents, to perform a task which has been very fairly laid upon me, as representative of Rowland Huyshe of Sand, whom he appoints one of his executors, by my co-trustees. They require his pedigree, as necessary to decide the claims of kindred for five scholarships which he founded for either University. The whole that 1 have been able to ascertain, is that the above-named John Huyshe of Doniford had a brother called Thomas, "from whom," the old family pedigree says, "do descend the Huyshes of Tetton in parish of Kingston, and thos other Huyshes about Taunton; and so Richard Huyshe, esq. who lyith buried in Tawton." His monument in Magdalen Church says that he was born in Taunton, and died 23 Feb. 1615. He was of New Inn in 1589; and his will, dated a few weeks (30 Jan. 1615, and proved in Prerog. Court, Canterbury, 12 June, 1616,) before his death, describes him of the precinct of the Blackfriars, London, where the property lies that he gave for the maintenance of his hospital and his scholarships, and where a court now bears his name. The registers of the two parishes in Taunton, and those of Kingston, have been searched in vain to make out the descent of Richard from Thomas and his wife Joan. Any information that may tend to elucidate it will be gratefully received. The arms over the hospital quarter Huyshe with Avenell alias Richards. Some of the descendants of this Thomas Huyshe, I believe, were those Huishes resident at Nottingham. In 1762 Mark Huish of that town writes that his grandfather was Robert Huish, who lived and died at Taunton, and [Dec. who was descended from Richard Huyshe, merchant in London, who lies buried at Taunton, and endowed the hospital in that town. According to family tradition, one of the family was implicated in Monmouth's rebellion, and fled the county to escape from Jeffreys's cruelty, and settled at Nottingham. Yours, &c. FRANCIS HUYSHE. Mr. WILLIAM HORTON LLOYD suggests that the seventh quartering in the shield (p. 305) is the coat of Burnell of Cocktree,-Argent, a chevron Ermines between three barnacles Sable. In the list of families extinct or removed, in Lysons's Devonshire, p. clxii. it is mentioned that the heiress of Burnell married Wike, and a coheiress of Wike of Bindon married Barry of Winscot (p. clxxxv). Mr. URBAN, Colsterworth, Dec. 12. IN your Number for Nov. p. 416, there is a long and laboured article to show that the translation and generally understood meaning of the Acts of the Apostles, xvii. 11, is not the correct one. But surely, without going into any Greek criticism upon the passage, it is perfectly plain by a reference to the fourth verse, that the writer is describing the different effects produced by the preaching of St. Paul in two different places and synagogues; and he compares more particularly its effects upon the Jews. At Thessalonica some of the Jews believed; at Beroa many of the Jews believed, because they were more noble or ingenuous than those of Thessalonica. The effect of his preaching upon the Greeks in the two places, is represented to be much the same, if verse 4, and verses 11, 12, refer to the same place, 'Thessalonica.' Then the writer of the Acts first relates, that after three days preaching, some of the Jews believed, and then that many of the Jews believed; and after having told us of a great multitude of devout Greeks and honourable women having believed, he repeats the information in the 12th verse, only reversing the proportion. First it would be 'a multitude of Greeks, and not a few women;' then 'many honourable women, and of men not a few.' The natural antecedent to the relative these' in the 11th verse, is 'the Jews,' in the 10th verse, and unquestionably the English version is H. T. correct. |